Loose-leaf binder.



U. 0. MALTBY & A.- DOM.

LOOSE LEAP BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906.

905,726. Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

LED GER Wihlessas- 1|": NDRRls PETERS cm, WASHINGYUN, u, c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. MALTBY, OF CINCINNATI, AND'ALEXANDER DOM, OF HARTWELL, OHIO,ASSIGN- ORS TO THE TWINLOCK COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATIONOF OHIO.

LOOSE-LE AF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908 Application filed May 28, 1906. Serial No.319,132.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES C. MALTBY, of Cincinnati, in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, and ALEXANDER DoM, of Hartwell, said countyand State, both of us citizens of the United States ,ofAmerica, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain im rovements in loose-leaf binders andhas or its object to provide a device of this general character of asimple and inexpensive nature and of a compact, strong and durableconstruction, which shall be adapted for securely holding the leaves orsheets in position while being capable of convenient and ready actuationto detach such leaves or sheets to permit their removal, substitution orreplacement and being also capable of a wide degree of adjustability toaccommodate the improved binder for holding a greater or lesser numberor thickness of the loose leaves or sheets.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction andcombinations and arrangements of the several parts of the improvedloose-leaf binder, whereby certain important advantages are attained andthe device is rendered simpler, cheaper and otherwise better adapted andmore -con venient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of our invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate ourinvention-Figure 1 is a fragmentary outside elevation of the improvedbinder embodying our improvements, the sides or covers being thrown outflat laterally and artially broken awa (for lack of space) and theback-section being partly broken out at its upper portion to illustratecertain underlying parts, with the o crating devices shown in closedosition; ig. 2, a fragmentary view somewhat similar to Fig. 1, butillustrating theinterior of the binderback and covers, certainmechanical parts and contrivances within the lower part of theback-section being omitted to avoid obscuring the underlying devicesFig. 3, an enlarged view of the devices shown at the lower part of Fig.2; Fig. 4, a partially dotted diagraphic view of the link and levermechanism taken from the upper end of the binder-back for illustratingthe operation of the means for adjusting the lateral-members of thebinder-back toward and from each other for use in clamping the looseleaves or sheets at their binding-edges; Fig. 5, a partial section takenlongitudlnally through one end portion of the'binder-back and showingcertain features of the adjusting and locking means carried thereby;Fig. 6, an enlarged fragmentary view showing the inner face of one endortion of the central member or back-section of the binder forillustration of the rear cover-plate carried thereby; and, Fig. 7, anend view of said back-section of the binder showing the key openingtherein and illustrating the shouldered central projection with whichsaid rear cover-plate is engaged.

As shown in these views, the back of the improved binder is made insectional form and has a lon itudinally-extended central member or bac-section 1, the rear or outer surface of which is made rounded or curvedto imitate the convexity commonly present in the backs of bound volumes.The back of the improved binder also has or comprises lateral-membersformed from metal plates adjustably-held upon op osite lateral edges ofthe back-section 1 an extended longitudinally along the same. Theseveral members of the binder-back will usually be covered with leatheror the like to improve the appearance of the device.

The metal plates of which the lateral members of the blnder-back areformed are centrally bent to produce wings or portions 2 and 3 atright-angles to each other, so that each lateral-member has an angularor L- shape in cross-section, and one of the angular wings or portionsof each of such lateralmembers is extended upon the inner or frontsurface of the central member 1, (as shown at 3 on the drawings,) andhas means for adjusting it in open and closed position upon said centralmember, while the other angular Wing 2 of each *of said lateral-membersis extended forwardly at right-angles from the plane of said centralmember 1 and is provided with means comprising telesco ing tubular partsor sleeves 5, 5 for detacha lyholding the loose leaves or sheets of thebinder and means, also, for hinge-connection of the sides or covers 4, 4of the binder, such hinge-connection being, as herein shown, of such anature that said sides or covers may be extended laterally and laid fiatin open .position to give free access to the contained sheets.

At opposite ends of the binder-back, the lateral-members havetelescoping shells or casings 6, 6 of hollow rectangular cross-sectionserving as substantial end-supports for said lateral-members 2, 3, whenadjusted toward and away from each other and, also, adapted forengagement in indentations at the ends of the binding edges of the looseleaves or sheets, in a well knownway, to-prevent edgewise movement ofsaid sheets or leaves when clamped between the lateralmembers.

The opposite'ends of the central member 1 of the binder-back are formedwith integral forwardly-directed flanges 7, the joints of said flangeswith the convexed rear face of member 1 being made rounded, (as seen inFig. 5,) so as not to wear the leather-covering or scratch or mar thedesk or table at which the binder is used, and on the front surfaceofsaid central member 1 at each end thereof are held fiat cover-plates 9and 15, suitably secured to said member and spaced apart sufficiently toallow the free passage back and forth laterally of the inwardly-directedwings or flanges 3, 3 of the respective lateral-members when adjustedtoward or from each other, and without the use of any guide-wayswhatever. For securing these guidelates to the member 1, we preferablyprovi e each'end flange 7 of said member with a centralforward-extension 11 having a straight front edge whereon the end of thecorresponding rear cover-plate 9 is securely rested and having shouldersat its ends wherewith are engaged rearwardly-directed ribs orprojections 12, 12 integral at opposite edges of said late 9. Saidplates 9 are each formed withlateral arms or lugs 10, 10 held by rivetsor the like to member 1, and at their adjacent inner ends, each plate 9,has spaced, rearwardly-directed right-angled arms or lugs 13, 13, alsoriveted or otherwise fastened to member 1, (as best seen in Fig. 6).

By reason of the rounded or convexed formation of the central member 1there is produced a chamber therein extended lengthwise behind the rearend-plates 9, 9, and in said chamber is a longitudinally-extendedoperating-shaft 17, the ends whereof have reverse or right and left-handscrew-threads 18, 18, and one end of which has a squared or otherwiseformed portion 19, adjacent to an aperture 8 in one of the end-flanges 7of member 1, and whereat a key or the like may be inserted forengagement with said squared end 19 to turn the shaft.

16, 16 are bearing-plates held to the arms or lugs 13 of the respectiverear plates 9, 9 by means of screws or the like engaging sockets 13 insaid lugs, and wherein the corresponding ends of shaft 17 are adapted tofreely turn. These bearing-plates have extensions or wings 24, which aredirected along opposite sides of shaft 17 and carry at their endsauxiliary-bearings 25 wherein shaft 17 also turns freely.

The forward cover-plates 15 are held by screws 14 or the like to thefront faces of the rear plates 9, 9 at their outer ends, and theiropposite inner or adjacent ends are held by means of screws 25 to theauxiliary-bearings 25, said auxiliary-bearings having centralforwardly-extended parts 26 wherewith said screws are engaged. Thecentral or intermediate portion of each forward coverplate 15 is, ofcourse, spaced in front of the rear plate 9 to permit the inturned wingsor flanges 3, 3 of the lateralmembers to play freely between said platesas above described.

20, 20 indicate nuts or collars provided on the screw rod or shaft 17outside the respective bearing-plates 16, 16 and 22, 22 are transversefastening rivets or pins passed through holes made in said nuts andshaft, suitable openings 23, 23 being rovided in the central member 1(as shown in Fig. 5) for aifordin access to the nuts and shaft indrilling said holes in the proper places and for the convenientinsertion of said rivets or pins. Tool engaging notches 21 are cut inthe collars 20, to aid in initially turning the latter up to laceagainst the plates 16 at the time the ateral-members are closed (as inFig. 1) and the said shaft then assumes its proper position and relationin the binder to receive the pins 22 that prevent itslengthwise-movement.

27, 27 are nuts or travelers having threadedengagement on therespective, oppositely screw-threaded end portions 18 of shaft 17, andeach such nut has opposite, lateral projections 28, 28 whereon arepivotally-attached the inner ends of oppositely-inclined levers 29, 29whose outer ends are pivotally-connected as shown at 30, 30 with theinwardlydirected wings or flanges 3, 3 of the respective lateralmembersof the binder-back. Links 31, 31 with inner ends pivotallyconnected at28", 28 on the bearing-plate extensions 24, have their outer endspivotally-connected with the central portions of the res ective levers29, 29 to form movable fulcra t erefor.

The arrangement of links and levers at the opposite ends of thebinder-back is reversed to afford connection of the outer ends of levers29 with the lateral-members at points as near the ends of saidlateral-members as required for clamping the sheets between saidlateralmembers, and owing to the presence of the reverse-threads 18, itfollows that When the shaft is turned in one direction, saidlaterahmembers are evenly and uniformly drawn together to forcibly clampand is-o securely hold the binding edges of the loose leaves or sheets,and when said shaft is reversely turned, said lateral-members of thebinder-back are moved apart from each other so as to relax sheets andermit t e same to be removed and insertet at will. Since the shaft 17 issecurely held against endwise movement by the contact of its lockedcollars or nuts 20, 20, with the bearing lates 16, 16, it is evidentthat the latera -members are held in true and exact arallelism duringadjustment toward and from each other, and a uniform'and direct pressureis exerted on the binding edges of the loose leaves or sheets withoutproviding any extraneous guiding means.

The partially dotted diagraphic view, Fig. 4, best illustrates theoperation of the link and lever arrangement taken from the upper end ofthe binder-back, the closed position of such link and lever mechanismfor use in operating the lateral-memhers of the binder be ingrepresented by the full lines a, a, while the open position of said linkand lever mechanism, to relax ressure of the lateralmembers and permitree removal or like insertion of the loose leaves or sheets, isrepresented by the diagonal dottedlines at Z), Z). The several pairs oflongitudinally-movable pivotal-points 28, 28 are initially placed at thesame immovable distance apart, transversely of the back, as that of theseveral pairs of tra-nsversely-immovable pivotalpoints 28, 28 and aremaintained in a rectangular relation to each other at all times duringthe action of transversely-reciprocating the lateral-members of thebinder-back, toward and from each other (as best seen along the paralleldotted-lines 28 28 in said diagram, Fig. 4).

In practice, the length of each of the links 31, 31 betweenpivotal-centers is exactly half that of the length betweenpivotal-centers of the respective levers 29, 29, and the actionresultant therefrom is such that the pivotalpoints 28, 28 move in a truestraight line longitudinally or vertically while the ivotalpoints 30, 30move in a true straight ine laterally or transversely, the respectivelinear movements of both sets of said pivotalpoints being always atright-angles to each other and thus the reciprocal sidewise-movements ofthe lateral-members carrying the hinged sides or covers 4, 4 aremaintained in an absolutely straight line, without any strain whateveron the link and lever mechanism and without the use or presence ofguidesor guide-ways of any kind being necessary.

The improved binder constructed as above described is not merely of anextremely simple and inexpensive nature, but is especially desirable foruse by reason of the parallel movement of the lateral-members assuredWithout ressure on the leaves or the employment of extraneous guidingmeans by simply holding shaft 17 from longitudinalmovement, wherebyuneven movement or sticking of the lateral-members is absolutelyprevented in the adjustment thereof toward and from each other to clam')or release the leaves or sheets, and it will a so be obvious, from theabove description of our improvement, that the improved binder iscapable of considerable change without material departure from theprinciples and spirit of the invention and for this reason We do notdesire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise form andarrangement of the several parts of the device herein set forth incarrying out our invention in practice.

We claim 1. In a loose leaf hinder the combination of leaf clampingmembers supported to reciprocate, means for reciprocating said clampingmembers comprising a screw shaft having oppositely threaded portions,nuts traveling thereon, fixed bearing plates in which said shaft isjournaled, toggle levers connected to the clamping members and movablefulcrum members extending from said bearing plates and supporting saidtoggle levers intermediate their ends.

2. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a central back-memberhaving inwardly directed end flanges provided with raised or extendedportions the opposite ends of which latter produce shoulders and therear coverplates held to said central member with their outer edgesresting on the edges of said end flanges and having lateral,rearwardly-directed projections engaged on the shoulders of said endflanges.

3. The combination of the central member, bearinglates carried thereby,a screwshaft journa ed. in the bearing-plates, nuts havingthreaded-engagement with the screwshaft, lateral-members movable towardand from each other, lever-mechanism affording connection between thenuts and said lateralmembers, and collars held on said shaft outside ofthe bearing-plates for engagement therewith to prevent endwise movementof the shaft.

4. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of leaf clamping memberssupported to reciprocate, and means to reciprocate said memberscomprising a screw shaft, a nut traveling thereon, toggle leversconnecting the clamping members and nut, and movable fulcrum memberssupporting the toggle levers intermediate their lengths.

5. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of leaf clamping members,guides upon which said members are supported to reciprocate toward andfrom each other, and mechanism to actuate said clamping memberscomprising a screw shaft journaled to extend with its axis perpendicularto the direction of movement of the clamping members and back member, aright and left threaded screw confined against :endwise movement, a pairof nutstraveling thereon, toggle-levers connecting said clamping memberswith said nuts, and ivoted fulcrum links connecting the centra portionsof the respective toggle levers with relatively fixed points of support.

6. In a loose leaf-binder, the combination of a back member and a pairof opposed clamping members mounted to reciprocate toward each other andrelatively across said back member, a right and left threaded screwshaft journaled upon the back member to extend longitudinally of thelatter and confinedagainst endwise movement, traveling nuts upon therespective threads -of said shaft, toggle levers connecting-each nutwith each clamping member, a fulcrum link connecting the. intermediateportion of each toggle lever with a fixed support upon said back member.

7. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a back member and a pairof opposed clamping members mounted to reciprocate toward each other andrelatively across said shaft journaled upon the back member to extendlongitudinally of the latter and confined against endwise movement,traveling nuts upon the respective threads of said shaft, toggle leversconnecting each nut with each clamping member, a fulcrum link connectingthe intermediate portion of each toggle lever-witha fixed support uponsaid back member, and imp aling devices mounted upon the respectiveclamping members.

8. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of a back member, a pair ofclamping members each provided with impaling devices, the impalingdevices of the two clamping 3 members having telescopic slidingengagement with each other, and means for actuating said clampingmembers comprisin a right and left threaded screw shaft journa ed uponthe back member midway of the distance between the clamping members andparallel with the clamping faces of the latter, nuts upon the respectivethreaded portions of said screw shaft, uniform length symmetricallydisposedtoggle levers connecting each traveling nut with each clampingmember, and uniform length symmetrically disposed fulcrum linksconnecting the intermediate portions of each toggle lever withfixedpivot supports upon the back member. I

9. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a back member, a pair ofclamping members each provided with impaling devices, the impalingdevices of the two clamping members having telescopic sliding engagementwith each other, and means for actuating said clamping memberscomprisin' a right and left threaded screw shaft 1' ourna ed upon theback member midway of the distance between the clamping members andparallel with the clamping faces of the latter, nuts upon the respectivethreaded portions of said screw shaft, uniform length symmetricallydisposed toggle levers connecting each traveling nut with each clampingmember,

and uniform length symmetrically disposed fulcrum links connecting theintermediate portions of each toggle lever with fixed pivot supportsupon the back member, said fulcrum links being each of a length equal toone-half the length of the lever with which it is connected and thefixed pivotal supports of said fulcrum links being arranged in alinementwith the pivotal supports of the actuating nuts with which thecorresponding toggle levers are connected.

Signed at Cincinnati, Ohio, this 17th day of May 1906.

CHARLES C. MALTBY. ALEXANDER DOM.

Witnesses:

JOHN ELIAS JoNEs, OLIVER J. TIMBERMAN.

